Coin selector



Jan. 9., 1940. J. GOTTFRIED Er AL 2,186,863

I com SELECTOR Filedy Feb. 16, 1939 Patented Jan. #9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COIN SELECTOR John Gottfried and Benjamin 'W. Fry, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 16, 1939, Serial No. 256,660

1 Claim.

c signed and constructed for the differential selection and segregation of coins of various degrees of paramagnetic characteristics, such as to segregate effectively the live-cent pieces of the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada; the provision of selecting devices of the class described which are likewise effective to select coins of one selected degree of paramagnetism from coins not only of other degrees of. paramagnetism' but also from diamagnetic coins; the provision of coin selecting devices of the class described which are adapted to deliver all non-acceptable coins, slugs, etc., from a single outlet displaced from another single outlet for acceptable coins; and the provision of coin selecting devices of the class described which are simple and economical in construction and reliable in operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplied in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be 'indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is illustrated one of various. possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig, 1 is a side elevation'of a coin selecting device embodying theV present invention; and Figures 2, 3, and 4 are cross sections taken respectively on lines 2-2, 3-3, and 4-4 of' Fig. 1. Y

vSimilar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several viewsof the drawing.

In certain instances itl is desired to separate coins offnedegree of'paramagnetism from all other coins (or slugs)l both paramagnetic and diamagnetic. 'Ihe problem of separation of coins of one degree of paramagnetism from coins of another degree of paramagnetism is considerably more diicult than that of separating paramagnetic coins generally from diamagnetic coins, because a simple test by magnetic attraction is not sufliciently sensitive. For instance, the live-cent (so-called nickel) coins of the United States of Amrrica and of Canada are both paramaguntil it hits runway Y down runway I5 towards the light. In order to 20 travels the full-length Y netic, and consequently are quite diicult to separate. 'Ihe United States coin,y however, has a lesser degree of paramagnetism than has the Canadian coin, so that a selection can be made on this basis, assuming suflcient sensitivity of the selecting device. The present invention affords such a device.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, nu- I meral I indicates a rectangular base plate, made of a preferably diamagnetic metal such as aluminum or vzinc. Integral with andupstanding irom the opposite vertical edges of plate I are anges 3. Along the lower left-hand verticaledge of the plate I, extending to the lower lefthand corner thereof, is a projection or mounting l.'

platform 5, and a corresponding projection or mounting platform l is'provided at the lower right-hand corner of the plate I.

On the upper left-hand corner of the plate I is mounted, as by screws 9, a coin receiving chute indicated generally by numeral II. In commercial selecting devices thisl chute II may and preferably does testing presented coins for various size, shape, and surface characteristics, but in the interest of simplicity such means are omitted from the present showing. Broadly, the chute II comprises a top wall I3, a bottom wall or runway I5, and a'cover Il. The top wall I3 has a vertical portion I9 and a sloping D0rtion 2i the bottom wall I5 is sloping and preferably parallel to the sloping portion 2|. The walls I3 and I5 provide suflcient space between the plate I and the cover I'I to permit a between.

A coin 20 inserted into the chute II at the upper left-hand corner of plate I consequently rst falls approximately vertically downwardly I5, and then rolls or slides make sure each coin of the runway I5, a pair of projections 23 are provided (on either the plateI or the cover I'I) which directinserted coins to the left, against.

flange 3.

Runway I5 is relatively shorter than upper wall I3, so that coins are free to fall from the end thereof in a manner hereinafter to be described.

Numeral 25 indicates a horseshoeV magnet that.

embody various means for` coin freely to slide there-` stantiallyatrightanglestoloththesurtaof 2 plate I and the runway I5. By loosening screw 21 the position of the magnet 25 on the plate may easily be adjusted.

Numeral 31 indicates a substantially rectangular plate that is mounted on the projections or platforms 5 and 1 by screws 39, to cover substantially the entire lower half of plate I. Plate 31 has a rectangular notch4 4| provided in its upper right-hand corner, but in mid-position along the horizontal edge of notch 4| is a rearwardly-extending sloping projection 43 that enters into a rectangular hole 45 in the base plate I.`

At its left-hand edge plate 31 has an upstanding flange 41 that nests with and extends upwardly to about the same level as the left-hand ilange 3 of base plate I. l

On its under side the plate 31 carries an in-` tegral rib 49 that is vertical and 'spaced from the left-hand edge of plate 31 a distance about equal to one coin diameter. Rib 49 extends across the space between plates I and 31. This space, determined by the heights of projections 5 and 1, is suflicient freely to permit a coin to slide therein. The plate 31 also carries on its under side a sloping rib 5I that terminates on the lower edge of plate 31 and extends upwardly and to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, to a position somewhat less than the diameter of a coin and a little to the right of the left-hand edge of hole 45 in base plate I. Rib 5| also Vextends across the space between plates I and 31, and its lower end, together with the lower end of rib 49, denes an outlet 53 for accepted coins.

On its upper surface and extending across its lowerright-hand corner plate 31 carries a long sloping rib 55, which is of substantially the-l same thickness as flange 41. Rib 55 extendsl from a point on the right-hand edge of plate 31 somewhat less than a coin diameter below the horizontal edge of notch 4|, to the lower edge of plate 31 at a point just to the right, as viewed in Fig. l, of the lower end of rib 49. Rib 55 and iiange 41 have enlargements 51 to receive screws 59 for holding a rectangular cover plate El to the device. The cover plate 5I extends over the entire lower half of the apparatus, its upper edge being somewhat higher than the upper edge of plate 31. The plates 31 and 6I and the lower edges of flange 41 and rib 55 ,denne an outlet 63 for non-accepted coins.

Flange 41 and rib 55 space plate 6| from plate 31 a distance equal to five or six coin thicknesses.

Numeral 65 indicates a hole of generally rectangular shape (with its top arched) that is' pro- '.vided in plate 31 just to the rightof rib 49,

as viewed in, Fig. l. The hole 55 is wide enough laterally to freely pass a coin, and is higher than it is wide. Its lower edge is positioned at a level somewhat below the lower side of hole 45 in plate I. On the lower edge of hole 65` is formed a sloping projection 61 which extends upwardly and rearwardly across the space between plates I and 31 and enters a ho'le 59 provided for it in plate I.

The upper edge of plate 31, from a point somewhat to the right of rib 49 to the notch 4I, is bevelled so as to slope downwardly and toward plate I, as indicated by numeral 1|.

Numeral 13 indicates a separator block having a coin-separating point 15 presented upwardly. Block 13 is adjustably mounted on plate I by screws 11 extending through a slot 19 in plate I. Block 13 extends across the space be- 75 tween plates I and31, and is positioned just to the right of hole 55 in plate 31, viewed as in Fig. 1.

Numeral 8| indicates a bar that has a aidewardly projecting ear 33 midway between its ends. Bar 3| pivots on a screw 35 passing through ear 83 and mounted in a boss 31 on the reverse face of base plate I. At its lower end bar 3| carries a projection 89 which extends into hole 45`and across the space between plates I and 31. The projection 89 is preferably of square cross-section, so as to present a sharp upper coin-separating edge 83. Bar 3| is locked in its adjusted position by a suitable bolt 9| passing through an arcuate slot 93 in the upper end of plate I.

The apparatus as thus described operates in the following manner:

All coins presented to the chute II at the upper left-hand corner of plate I first drop ver tically and then slide downwardly to the right along runway I5. In Fig. 1, the line of movement of the centers of such coins is shown at numeral 95, and the fact that all coins move alike in chute II is indicated by the interruption of line 95 with small single crosses (indicating diamagnetic coins), small circles (indicating relatively less paramagnetic coins) and small doub.e crosses (indicating relatively more paramagnetic coins). Y

All coins so moving acquire substantially the same velocity and inertia, so that when they pass ofi the end of runway I5 they are projected across the intervening space to bounce against the end face 33 Yof leg 29 of horseshoe magnet 25.

If the particular coin is diamagnetic, such as coin 20A, Fig. 1, the face 33 of leg 29 of magnet 25 acts simply as an anvil, and such coin bounces away from said face 33 to the left, its center following line 95A, 95B, or 95C. The distance to the left through which the particular coin will bounce depends upon its resilience, but lines 95A and 95C represent maximum and minimum resiliences ordinarily encountered. In any event, a diamagnetic coin bounces enough so that in subsequently falling its center of gravity is to the left of the separating point 15 of block 13; hence all diamagnetic coins drop to the left of block 13, encounter sloping projection 91 and are thereby guided Vt'hrough hole i5, drop to rib 55, and roll downwardly to the left therealong until they are discharged through non-acceptable coin outlet 63.

Coins of paramagnetic character instead of bouncing off surface 33 cling thereto instantaneously, and then, under gravity, roll downwardly over surface 35 of leg 3| and turn rearwardly` as if to follow the outer surface of said leg as along line 95E. However, because of the wellknown weakening of the magnetic effect of a horseshoe magnet as the end face thereof is left,vweakly paramagnetic coins almost at once pass from a magnetic field of suiicient strength to hold them adhered to the magnet, and consequently they drop off said magnet, following line 95D and assuming the position 20B. Such coins are the acceptable coins of the Apresent embodiment of the invention, and they fall vertically down with their centers of gravity between edge 15 of block 13 and the edge of projection 89, to lodge against rib 5I, to roll or slide therealong to be ejected through acceptable coin outlet 53. .I

In the third place coins of a more strongly paramagnetic character adhere longer to the lower edge of leg 3| of the magnet 25. and roll thereaisascs along until their centers of gravity are to the right of the said separating edge of projection 89. Then such coins fall oil magnet (see line 95D) 25, are deflected by projection 43 into the space between plates 31 and 6i, drop to rib 55, and roll outwardly therealong to be ejected through the same. outlet 63 as the diamagnetic coins.

The separation, therefore, it will be seen, is conditioned upon the relative susceptibility of the coin material to magnetism and overly paramagnetic coins are not accepted but rejected, and dischargedl through the same outlet as diamagnetic coins.

It will be understood that the word coin is used herein to stand for 4not only legal coinage but illegal slugs and tokens.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a hunting sense.

We claim:

In a coin selecting device, means providing a sloping chute down which coins are adapted to roll, said coins being disposed in a substantially vertical plane, and a magnet with va pole 4face disposed at a substantially horizontal disnet having an edge of decreasing magnetic flux 10 intensity receding from said pole face ina direction away from said chute and disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, whereby diamagnetic coins'bounce from said pole face, while paramagnetlc coins adhere to said pole face and then, l5 under the influence of gravity, clingingly run down said edge a distance proportional to their paramagnetic character, finally to drop downward therefrom, separating means for segregating dropping coins of relatively greater paramagnetic character from coins of relatively lesser paramagnetic character, in accordancewith the points at which said coins drop off the said magnet edge, and further separating means for segregating bounced coins of diamagnetic char- @Si acter from coins of paramagnetic character.

JOHN GO'I'IFRIED.

BENJAMIN W. FRY. 

